Monday, 17 January 2011

Colour in January and the very first Snowdrop

It has been quite a dull January weather wise. After the spectacular, and I must admit very magical snow we had in December, it has been just...dull. I have seen some lovely colourful posts by my other blogger friends over the past few weeks friends so I thought a little more colour here would be perfect for this post.

Last week I visited my favourite garden centre in Kent when I went over to see my parents.

It was lovely to see so much colour on such a dreary day. I spied lots of boxes of violas. I always enjoy growing violas. There are so many colour varieties and they are such plucky little plants which seem to survive through the coldest winters. They actually seem so much more hardy that the so called "winter flowering pansies"- many tend to give up the ghost in really cold weather.

There were also striking varieties of primroses.

There had been a new delivery of my favourite pots.

These terracotta pots, made by Willow Pottery, have the advantage of being frost proof. They bring out new designs on a regular basis and we loved the new cat design of the pot in the middle. My parents bought me a Willow Pottery pot for Christmas with a sweet hedgehog on the rim. I am so looking forward to filling it with some plants when the weather improves.

It was also so cheering to see tubs planted up with my very favourite flower...the dearest daffodil. I particularly like this miniature "tete a tete" variety and have a small pot indoors myself.
But what cheered me up the most that day was when we returned to my parents' home my Mum mentioned that she had found her first Snowdrop in flower in their garden. They are very late this year, my Mum has had Snowdrops in flower before Christmas some years. I had to go out to photograph it, here it is...

So despite our harshest winter for many years and the Snowdrops very late arrival this year, the first bulbs are even in bloom out in the garden. I have never had much success growing Snowdrops, but when I returned home I had a look outside in my raised bed. I was delighted to find that my bulbs, although not yet in flower, are coming along nicely! There are green tips beginning to emerge from the very cold soil.

Now I don't need to add who also felt he had to check this out, do I?.............

He does not like to miss out on anything!

Thank you Billy! It appears there are more signs of spring approaching and even the days are getting very slightly lighter now..what bliss.

Remember it's the last few days to enter my giveaway here. There is some colour to win, so don't miss out!

18 comments:

Bless the little snowdrops, it's lovely to see them!So happy to see those primula too as my window boxes are very sad looking at the moment and I can't wait to get some colour into them. I'm afraid our severe weather before Christmas finished off the pansies, violas and cyclamen, I've never known that to happen before!Anyhow we're on the right road now to better weather, longer days and beautiful flowers.Vivienne x

Oh a little snowdrop! Just what I've been looking for in my garden - and today I found some snowdrop buds pushing through at last, but no flowers yet! Love your spring garden centre pix - I've just bought a few primulas from the greengrocers - so bright and beautiful. Helen x

Thank you Michele. Actually today has been rather sunny and do you know what I think I may have had success with some Snowdrops in my garden this year!Fingers crossed, I will keep my eye on them. Happy Tuesday,Jane x

I am amazed by your pictures, we still have officially measured 55cm/21" snow and MORE coming! Your pictures look like in March/April here, daffodils and all (which I love too!)... I wish so much this dull January would be over already...

And my favorite inspector B. there again busily checking everything, I just love him in his work ;)

Have a great day dear friend, and many greetings from wintery Finland!

Dear Mia, gosh you really do have so much snow still! Today has actually been the 1st sunny day for a while although it is chilly (mind you 3oc to you during the day is probably tropical!)Inspector B is having his suppper as we speak and sends you a sweet kiss.Keep warm my dear, Jane x

Hi Jane, Its so nice to be back on the internet visiting all my favorite bloggers. I love the photographs especially the Willow Pottery love it! It's nice to see a bit of spring popping up in your garden. Oh, the thoughts of spring!

Hi Dani, great to see you back again. Hope you are feeling better every day. It is lovely to see some signs of spring, I even noticed some catkins in the trees as I walked home from work this afternoon, bliss!Take care,Jane x

Hello Jane! Thank you for all the lovely flowers and energy colours! I have lots of green outside...but not many flowers, so it's really nice to see some of them! I love violas so much - come spring quickly to get some of those beauties!Have a lovely time! Teje

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About Me

Welcome to Jane's Journal. Having worked for the NHS as a physiotherapist for 34 years I now follow a crafting life selling my handmade cards in Dotty's, a local vintage tea room. My passions are as a papercrafter, silversmith, jewellery maker, and occasional cake decorator. I am a Design Team Member for Country View Crafts, Visible Image and STAMPlorations. I enjoy occasional Guest Designing for other stamp companies/card challenges. My work has been published and appeared on TV. I am also a keen photographer and gardener.
I am the wife of a very dear husband and have 2 wonderful grown up children (but always my babies to me). Our lives have been blessed by the arrival of our 2 darling grandchildren; Daisy Jane, in 2013 and Jack in 2017. We also have a very special cat called Billy who shares our home.
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